Red Dragon (2002)

Red Dragon is a 2002 psychological thriller film based on the 1981 novel by Thomas Harris. It was directed by Brett Ratner and written by Ted Tally. A prequel to Hannibal (2001) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991), it is the third film of the Hannibal Lecter franchise. It is the last film of the series distributed by Universal Pictures and the last film to star Anthony Hopkins as Lecter, only followed by a prequel, Hannibal Rising (2007) which depicts Lecter's youth. The film sees FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) enlisting the help of serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to catch another killer, Francis Dolarhyde (Ralph Fiennes). Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker, and Philip Seymour Hoffman also star.

It is considered the fourth of the five released films regarding Hannibal Lecter. The novel was previously adapted into the film Manhunter (1986). Both films feature the same cinematographer, Dante Spinotti. After turning down the Silence of the Lambs sequel, Hannibal (2001), The Silence of the Lambs screenwriter Ted Tally returned to write Red Dragon. It was released by Universal Pictures on October 4, 2002, to mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, who deemed it to be an improvement over Hannibal, but inferior to The Silence of the Lambs. It was a box office success, earning $209.2 million worldwide against a $78 million budget.